ESCANABA---The third time was not the charm for the Gladstone High School boys basketball team Wednesday night as the Escanaba Eskymos mucked their way through a 45-35 win in the MHSAA Division Two district semifinals.

It was the third win for the Eskymos over the Braves this season, and it was not easy, as the rivalry battle went down to the final few minutes like usual.

Gladstone scored the first two baskets of the fourth quarter in the paint, by Luke Bracket and Drake Johnson, to take a 33-31 lead.

But that's when Eskymo senior Casey Bray took over, making a triple with 5:29 left to put Escanaba ahead, 34-33, and then sinking another three with 3:38 left to give Escanaba a 37-33 lead. The Eskymo defense continued to stymie the Braves offense, and Shane Wallin threw down a triple of his own to give Escanaba an insurmountable 40-33 lead.

A Wallin free throw completed a 10-0 run and sent the Eskymos into Friday's district championship game at home against Kingsford.

“We picked it up in the second half,” Bray said. “We made more shots in the second half, I had more shots in the second half, and along the way, we got some steals and played some good defense. Overall, we played some good 'team basketball' and got the W. I'm happy with the way we played as a team today.”

“Typical rivalry game between Escanaba and Gladstone,” Eskymo Coach Scott Hanson said. “The game was closer than the ten points (difference) that are on the board. Casey Bray, as he's done multiple times, put us on his shoulders and carried us in the second half. He made some huge shots for us.”

Gladstone started Wednesday's game strong, taking a 10-2 lead midway through the first quarter. It stayed close, and low-scoring, all the way to halftime, with Gladstone ahead, 19-18.

The Braves scored the first two baskets to start the third quarter, making it 23-18, but Bray keyed a 13-2 run that gave Escanaba a 31-25 lead. Bray was fouled shooting a three, and he made all three of his foul shots. Moments later, Bray knocked down another triple to give Esky the six-point lead.

Gladstone scored the next eight points to take that 33-31 lead, before Bray, and the Eskymo defense, turned things around. Bray led the scoring with 20 points. Wallin chipped in twelve points.

The Braves got eleven points from Bracket. Kaden Gibbs chipped in seven points, as Gladstone finished its season with a 9-12 record.

“It's tough to beat a team three times,” Hanson said. “They're our rival, and I thought Gladstone played hard. They handled us physically in the first half, I thought they rebounded well, and got all of the loose balls. I thought in the second half, we did a better job of that, and did just enough to get the win.”

Escanaba improved to 15-6 and will host Kingsford (19-3) in the district final Friday night. The Flivvers knocked out Negaunee in the other semifinal Wednesday, 55-45, at the Lakeview Memorial Gym. Nic Nora had 23 points and Gavin Grondin added 16 for the Flivvers in that one.